Movies

Today my friends and I are planning to see Alice in Wonderland at the Showboat Drive in Movie Theatre Lately I've been thinking about all the movies I've seen, which is ALOT. We have a Netflix account so we get a new movie basically every other day. We still go to see movies at a theatre and sometimes we go to the drive in, like tonight. Here I've decided to post some cool links about movies and the movie going experience just because I think everyone should be a part of this fun entertainment source:

Movie Watching According to 1000 Awesome Things: I really liked this post because it talked about the role the audience plays in movies, especially when you're with your friends

Rotten Tomatoes: Reviews of all the latest movies

Popcorn!: The perfect popcorn recipe

General Popcorn Info: Want to learn more about popcorn?

Movies.com: Absolutley EVERYTHING you ever needed to know about movies. Theaters, Showtimes, What's new on DVD & Blueray, and reviews.

Well thats all i can think of right now! Thanx for reading

Hope Flew in Tonight

Just recently a huge semi came barreling down our sleepy little street and nocked off half of a large limb that was growing over the street from a tree in our front yard. We were devastated for our poor tree, and still hoping that it won't get sick. It's tall and thick and it's been a constant image in my life. I don't know how many times I've sat in the swing that hangs from it's branches or in the hammock on the other side. When I was younger, I built fairy houses among the roots, collected moss, even buried acorns under it to pretend that I was getting ready for the long winter months. I was never able to dig them back up again, later. When we came home to comfort our tree, just as we were standing underneath the limb that broke, a little bird swooped down in total silence and landed directly above us. As it looked down at us we realized it was an Eastern Screech Owl, sitting directly above our heads, on an arm of the amputated limb. My mom and I froze as if our feet had grown roots and stared up at the bird. After a few minutes of watching us it flew away on wings that seemed too large for such a small body. We firmly believe that the little owl had come back to make sure it's tree would be ok, and maybe to comfort us, too. It's moments like that, when something bigger that you convenes, and you realize that hope is in sight is what makes life wonderful. And that night, hope flew in and perched above our heads.

Photo: Our tree before the accident

The Midnight Museum

Light Tunnel, Houston Museum of Fine Art

This is a rather random post, but I wanted to write something. Today my mom and I spent the afternoon at the Houston Museum of Fine Art (HMFA). It was really nice. There is something about museums that makes me feel at peace. Maybe its the high ceilings, and the large echoing halls. Maybe it's the light. The light in museums is beautiful because not only do you have the natural light from outside (except it was cloudy today), but there's also all the little beams that shine on interesting pieces of gold jewelry or large colorful paintings. There weren't a lot of people there today, which is odd because it's Friday. We ate dinner in the cafe and watched the people walk by.

And then, on the way home an idea struck me. What if museums were open 24 hours. People who couldn't sleep or who were working late and needed some time to relax could get in their cars and go to the museum. They could walk the halls and look at all the artwork in the middle of the night, knowing that the wouldn't have time for it during the daytime. Being in such a large place full of beautiful things is a kind of therapy. And wouldn't it be nice for all the people that inhabit the night.

Photo provided by:www.flickr.com/photos/ dawilson/3392948944/

Blue Chatter and the Occasional Real Conversation

Conversation is a form of communication that is universal. It's how we reach out and connect with other people and how we connect with ourselves. When I need to work things out in my mind I talk to myself. I'll walk around the house carrying on this mini one way conversation with my thoughts and my dreams. They are all there communicating with me even though they can't speak. I take them into my heart and speak for them just as I speak for myself.

Some people like to refer to the "lost art of conversation." This is something that I don't really believe in. Sure speaking face to face may have faded some, and some people have trouble reaching out to others through conversation, but speech is something that will never die out. It's simple and direct. Talking with someone is risky because we could say something that we aren't supposed to. We don't have time to process our next sentence. We have to step out and say what we think and suffer the consequences if it comes out the wrong way. It isn't that we've forgotten how to talk to another person, it's that we're afraid to.

The next section of this post here simply because it fascinates me. I want you to think, just for one moment about all the people you've talked to in your entire life. There's your family members, your friends, your co-workers, your bosses, your teachers, and then there's the occasional stranger who comes into your life for one brief moment to tell you a story. When this happens you listen. And for one shining moment you catch a glimpse into another person's life. You see what they saw, you hear what they heard, and you connect this person's experience with your own. And that,dear reader, is the real power of conversation.

This idea was inspired in part by a fascinating post on the blog "The Fish Bowl: Where Ideas Swim." If you'd like to read about how we think about past,present, and future as well as a few other random but extremely thoughtful insights, check it out. You can find it in my blog roll. Enjoy!

Picture provided by:http://dumais.us/newtown/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/conversation.jpg

The New Year

So much can happen in a year. After a while I think it all blurs together, and even longer after that it doesn't really matter what year something happened. It's always strange to say to yourself, "Hey, today's the last day of 2009." As I think back on this past year I can't really remember specifics. Sure, recent things stick out, memories that have made fresh impressions on my open heart, even though after a while I will only be able to conjure up bits ad pieces. Emotions,and maybe the occasional smell of something familiar will make me remember. It's funny how memory works.

And then there's the new year. 2010 is full of opportunity. Full of shiny possibility, a chance to do something different. Maybe this is why we make resolutions. Change is something we hunger for, as well as second chances. The new year gives us that second chance. On the first day of this brand new year people are looking forward. The world opens up to us once again ad we welcome it. This year will be better, we say. And it will be, because we are diving in head first. Opportunity awaits. Go find it!

Clouds

For thousands of years, clouds have captured people's imaginations. These ever changing forces of nature are always around, and change as we do. Clouds represent many things. They can be menacing in a huge grey mass, or lighthearted as they drift across the sky. Our perception of clouds changes as well. Clouds can be a source of dreams for younger children,a source of worry for adults as a storm approaches, or a spectacular array of colors for everyone that takes the time to look up. Clouds are always there. Take a picture outside and most likely there will be clouds in the background. And when the sky is bright and clear many people notice immediately and say, "Look. There aren't even any clouds in the sky today." These beautiful masses of air and water are part of the many things that we as humans take for granted. So the next time you step outside, take a little bit of time to look up and watch them float by.

The Letter

There is something different and almost magical in writing a letter to someone. And I don't mean sending a Hallmark card and leaving it at that. I mean a real letter. The kind that is filled to the brim with slanted, messy script detailing your life, your family, maybe even your pets.

Sure, today we have a much better way of communicating. There's Facebook, Twitter, Instant Messaging, Texting, and e-mail. And of course, these have their many advantages that many people can't imagine living without. But when we decided to embrace these new standards of communication, we lost something as well. We lost intimacy. It used to be, when letters took weeks, sometimes months, to arrive at their destinations, people didn't just send information. They sent hopes and dreams and love. A shortage of letters from someone usually meant something drastic had happened. And today, with thousands of e-mails reaching their targets in less that a minute, there is I suppose a sense of assurance, but less of a personal contact between two people.

And this is why letters today mean so much. In a world that is moving at an accelerated pace, where the lines around the edges are blurred, receiving something that a loved one took the time to hand write simply so that you could feel it's weight on your finger tips is that much more powerful than reading it on a computer screen.

If you enjoy letter writing and receiving as much as I do, click on Letters of Note and Today I Saw in my blog roll. Thanks for reading!

A Chronicle of Ordinary Things Continued...

Here are some more pictures. Scroll down for the original post...

Parakeets!

Veggie Bowl

Shelf Life

A Chronicle of Ordinary Things

This is a group of photos that I took this afternoon. Welcome to my chronicle of ordinary things...

A Dog's Point of View

A Bracelet

A Winged Heart

Day of the Dead Shrine

Me!

The Magic of Sleep-Overs!

Didn't you love when your parent's went out of town and you got spend two or three days at a friend's house? Wasn't it great having fun with your friend and getting to see a little slice of what their life was like? Well that's what I got to do this weekend! My parents went out of town on Thursday so I went of to my friend's house. We danced, played video games, and of course, did homework. Today we got to go to the park and enjoy the nice cool weather(even if it was a little cloudy) This is a picture of me,my friend, and her little sister, (left to right.) It was taken with a phone so it doesn't have the best resolution. Don't worry though, better pictures for my blog are on the way. We get our new camera sometime next week!! Anyway, thanks for reading!

Fall Picnic

Sometimes life rushes at us so fast that we just have to be swept up in it all and don't have time to get off the highway and slow down a little bit. To me seasons are symbolic of slowing down because their change is so gradual and constant. Nature changes every day, but it's life is not like ours. Ours is constantly filled with rushing here and there, working late and getting things done as quickly as possible. Nature is a rhythm, a constant background to everything we do. It grounds us. It keeps us from floating away. We feel comfort to know that the sun will rise tomorrow morning and will set in the evening. The wind pulls at our clothes, whispering songs that fill us with emotion, but never quite speak loud enough for us to understand.

Out of all of the seasons the two that mean the most to me are summer and fall. Summer tells of freedom. It means long, blistering days of tranquility and sleepy happiness. Fall, however, is a different thing entirely. Fall is cool and soft. It's change and clear skies and bright colors. It's that feeling of coming home and taking wing all rolled into one. It's twilight and magic. Fall is belonging. And this is why I try to take time out of my busy schedule to go outside and enjoy the nice cool breeze and the pretty golden tint that seems to light up the earth during the autumn months. Believe me, it's worth it just to relax.

So Much to Do, So Little Time!

Ever since high school started it seems like I haven't had enough time to do anything besides homework. I'll finish one thing only to remember that I still have more work to do. Many times I try to stay on top of things and the get overwhelmed by them almost immediately.This post is to help those that need it figure out how to manage their time. It may seem hard at first, but once you create a system and stick to it, the process should get easier. Since I am still learning as well, I am probably not the best person to teach you this. Here are some of the links I found helpful:

Study Guides and Strategies

This is good for middle schoolers, high schoolers, and even college students. It offers valuable information as well as strategies like a place to fill in your schedule to see where your time goes.

Time Management Guide

Another site about using your time wisely, this time mostly for adults.

Remember the Milk

Remember the Milk is a site for easily managing your to-do's. They are still working on it so it may take a little bit of time to learn, but it is all worthwhile. The goal is to write everything you can think of down so that your mind is free to pick which things are most important.

Well that's all for now. I hope you found these links helpful!

In the Garden

Wandering Jew Plant

Rusty Garden Fairy

Pretty Butterfly

Pretty Butterfly

Hello everyone! This morning I decided to go out and take some pictures. In Houston it is still cloudy and wet, but a nice cool front has blown in and it's beginning to feel like fall. Of course, no one knows how long that will last. While I was outside a little butterfly showed up and began fluttering between the

bushes in my front yard. It landed on one bush and stayed for a long time, resting

it's wings. The little creature even let me get up close w/ my camera and I got some

really nice photos. Enjoy and please comment!

ps. click on the pictures to see a bigger version!

High School Schedule

I have been inspired by friend's blog to write this post. In the post before this I talked about how I loved sameness when I was little. Well, I still do. Here's my daily schedule:

6:30 AM: Wake up, usually I'm out of bed by 6:45

7:00 AM: Shower, eat, get ready to go

8:00 AM: Drive to school with my mom and my dog Scout riding in the front seat.

8:30 AM: School starts

8:35 AM: PE

9:38 AM: Geometry

10:31 AM: Spanish

11:24 AM: Art

12:12 PM: Lunch

1:06 PM: English

1:59 PM: Biology

2:52 PM: Geography

3:40 PM: School Ends!

4:30 PM: Arrive Home

5:00 PM: Do HW

6:00 PM: Do HW

7:00 PM: Eat Dinner

8:00 PM: Finish HW

9:00 PM: Free Time (?)

10:00 PM: Get ready for bed

10:30 PM: Sleep

As you can see I have a busy schedule. Of course, it fluctuates depending on how much homework I have. Anyway, that's all for now!

What's new in the life of Laura Mills?

I'm sorry to say that I didn't follow up on my last post (New, Better post coming soon). The news in my life is:

1. Tomorrow is the reading TAKS

2. .......there's really not much else going on.

Here's a cool link about typewriters, though! Be sure to click on on the thing at the top that says listen now.

Check it out! 

Thats all for now. Cya!

I rejoice because it is Friday, and because Stanford testing is officially OVER!

Happy Friday Everyone! Being the most special day that it is, I couldn't help but make a new post. Here are some of the interesting things that are going on in my life:

• Stanford testing is over!
• I'm accually updating my blog
• Tonight at 7:00 I'm going to my first group piano "lesson", where someone comes and gives feedback on our pieces.
• It's Friday!
• Tomorrow is RealFilms (A documentary screening my parent's non-profit organization does every other month at the Aurora Picture Show. I'm in charge of serving popcorn!)
• Oh. Also for dinner we're having sausage, green beans, and salad w/ homemade dressing. Yum!
• And thats about it...

There. You finally got a little peek into my every day life.

Above is a nice picture to look at, and below are some interesting links:

Learn about friday

More about Friday

UPDATE: Before I could finish my post, I had to go to the piano event that I was talking about. Everything went well, and there was a nice woman to give out tips after everyone's piece. It was a lot of fun, and the even had chocolate covered pretzels!

Thanx and Goodnight again